Restaurants across the country are on high alert after accusations the same family have racked up huge bills at venues 350 miles and then fled without paying. Footage released by the Fisherman’s Arms near Penzance, Cornwall, showed two men and two women with a baby and toddler doing a “doing a runner” without settling the £215 tab on June 18.
After seeing the CCTV released from the pub Karim Ullah, who runs the Brohmon restaurant in Essex, was stunned to release that the same group had also run off from his venue leaving him £182.15 out of pocket.
Devon and Cornwall Police and their colleagues in Essex have been informed about both incidents, but Mr Ullah said his local force had dropped the investigation.
Now eateries across the country will no doubt be on alert given the family seem to have escaped so far without punishment for their spree of non-paying dining.
In Cornwall manager Lucy earlier told the Mirror that one of the men from the group approached the bar and enquired how much their bill was, then said he was going out for a cigarette and never returned. She was also told the women were in the toilet.
She said: “He said they were going out for a cigarette and would come back to settle up, but they left. The women weren’t in the toilet, they had already left.”
She added the table of six had enjoyed a three-course Sunday roast complete with cocktails and food for the young children.
Likewise in Essex, Mr Ullah said the group had similarly left without settling up after saying they were going for a cigarette.
Mr Ullah, 50, told the Mail: “As soon as I saw the images, I knew that it was the same people who did a runner from my restaurant.
“I’ll never forget them, especially the man with the bushy beard, who I spoke to and the woman in a denim jacket. I’m disgusted by what they did to me and what they did to this pub.”
He said that they left without paying on the evening of April 29 – around two months before the incident in Cornwall.
Police were informed and provided with CCTV footage, he added, but later told him they would not be taking further action.
He believes that the group have likely done the same thing many times before, and urged officers to further investigate.
Meanwhile, Devon and Cornwall Police have said it is looking into the incident from last weekend.
A force spokesman said: “Police are aware of an incident where it is alleged that a group of people left The Fisherman’s Arms in Newlyn without paying their bill, late afternoon on Sunday June 18.
“Enquiries continue into this matter. Anyone with any information that could assist the police is asked to contact 101.”
